The Tortured Poets Department Songs Review (During Running)
How I felt while listening to this album while exercising (>100 times played)
Wow. It’s been a minute since the last Taylor album Midnights release (and my ‘review’). Of course I’m not reviewing ‘TV’ versions heh. But yeah this will be a BIG one. Will obviously be going through the Anthology songs as well! Listened to this album SO MUCH since the release, and so much of it was through running. Been basically listening to it through all the morning runs and solo runs — did a bunch more group runs over the last few months so couldn’t listen during those times. And as per usual, top to bottom as always for the max vibes!
Most runs are 60–90 minutes, so it is very sad that the occasions to listen to this album fully on runs are limited to long runs. Which has happened quite a few times, so yay. Usually the runs would end with Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus or So High School. Somewhere around that.
However, I have listened to the full suite of songs. Whether it’s shuffling the album while at work / doing other stuff. Or the 10+ flights I have been on since the album’s release (where I would play this album first!). So I think I have a solid idea of my opinions of these songs, which may or may not change as the years pass…..
Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
Once again (and again and again) a absolute super duper sensational opening song! A bit slower but I really like the melody. Post Malone feature is cool too; doesn’t really make or break the song but still some solid variation. The melody is very nice accompaniment for the beginning of any run; nice way to mentally get in sync with the run vibes too! A great start to a great album! 10+/10.
The Tortured Poets Department
A very solid song! More upbeat and catchy in some parts! Very enjoyable to run to! Idk not much else to say (and probably will be the same for so many other songs here) 9.5/10
My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
Similar to above! Really like the beat, I guess I enjoy the lyrics a bit more; nicer to vibe to? 10/10
Down Bad
A bit of a vibe shift compared to the last few songs I guess. But nice to sing along to still. I enjoy running along to it; though not as hype, it’s still fun. 9/10
So Long, London
Starts out a bit slow for me, but overall as the song progresses the melody is very nice! But still a bit slow overall. Not as hype. 8.5/10
But Daddy I Love Him
I’m not the biggest fan of the lyrics. Everything else about the song is solid I guess loooool. Idk, the lyrics stand out so much that it throws me off the melodic, endorphic run vibes (not saying that it’s ‘bad’ — just ‘bad’ in terms of how I like to chill and run and all). 7/10
Fresh Out The Slammer
Very nice song. Catchy, nice melody. I love running along to it. 9.5/10
Florida!!! (feat Florence + the Machine)
Very mixed feelings about this song. Like the vibes aren’t exactly top hit for me, but somehow the beat helps me run nicely with good vibes. Especially from the build in the bridge to ending; it’s super duper nice and singing along to that is hype too while running. Overall, super solid I guess. 9/10
Guilty as Sin?
Catchy lyrics, solid rhythm. 9/10
Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
I really like singing along to this song! Nice, catchy and cool lyrics. Not supre duper OP, but is still very nice. 9/10
I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
Uhhh a bit too slow for me? It’s a nice song overall, but in terms of running, it’s not the best for me. 7/10
loml
Yes, it is a bit slow and all, but I really really like the piano and overall melody! Flows very well, and works very well when I run along with it! 10/10
I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
I really enjoy the lyrics to this song! Pretty nice upbeat after the previous couple of softer-ish songs. Not the ‘favorite’ flow compared to some other songs, but it’s still nice! 9/10
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
Starts off slower, but then my body really gets into the flow of this song! Especially the bridge and all! Gets me really singing along to it! Obviously overall not the most upbeat, but still very nice! 9/10
The Alchemy
Upbeat! Travis Kelce?! Very catchy and nice lyrics! Super nice to run along and listen to this song! Pretty basic stuff overall, but very nice still! 10/10
Clara Bow
Hmm. I like the melody and rhythm overall. Though a bit slow, I somehow get nice vibes from it while running. Solid stuff! 8.5/10
The Black Dog
The first song of the Anthology! One of my favorites of the album! So nice to sing along to! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SONG WOOOOOOOO. Super nice to listen to while running! 10++/10
imgonnagetyouback
Another amazing song! A bit more quiet-ish compared to the last one, but super duper nice vibes from the very first word! THE BRIDGE IS AMAZING!
I can feel it comin’, hummin’ in the way you move
Push the reset button, we’re becoming something new
Say you got somebody, I’ll say, “I got someone too”
Even if it’s handcuffed, I’m leaving here with youBygones will be bygone eras fadin’ into gray (fadin’ into gray)
We broke all the pieces but still want to play the game (oh)
Told my friends, “I hate you but I love you just the same”
Pick your poison, babe
I’m poison either way
TOO GOOD! Gives me so much nice flow and energy and all that! Wow! 10++/10
The Albatross
WOW, 3 GOATED SONGS IN A ROW! Yeah I loveeeeee this song too. Unique melody/rhythm-ish. Lyrics are so good. Everything is so good! Nothing much else. Just so good! 10++/10
Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus
Yeah. A bit of a slowdown after 3 amazing amazing songs. But still really good; it’s not like things just fell off a cliff. Just some nice soft-ish melody rhythm stuff. Nice. 8.5/10
How Did It End?
Love the piano. Very nice melody, and I love running along to this song! Lyrics are pretty cool too! 10/10
So High School
Lol. Lyrics are cool I guess. But nice and upbeat. And of course nice to sing along to. Overall, it’s really nice to run with this song, solid vibes overall. Yeah still really good stuff. 10/10
I Hate It Here
I really really enjoy this song (maybe because I hate….. nvm lol). But yeah, the song flows so good, and I love running along to it! Some parts nice to sing along to too! 10+/10
thanK you aIMee
A unique style I think? But pretty solid stuff. Not the best compared to previous few songs, and nothing super special overall. Some upbeat parts are solid though. 8.5/10
I Look in People’s Windows
A short song. But very nice. A bit slower of course, but yeah it’s solid overall. 8.5/10
The Prophecy
Nice! I enjoy listening to this overall, and flows well with the running. Hmm not sure what else to comment but I do like listening to this. 8.5/10
Cassandra
A small slowdown, but very nice to listen to overall! 8.5/10
Peter
I enjoy the melody to this! Also the piano is nice! Nice flow overall. 8.5/10
The Bolter
One of my favs! Love the lyrics! More upbeat, and nice flow! NICE!!!!!! Yeah nice stuff uh ye. 10+/10
Robin
A bit slower I guess. Meh not the best, and near the end of album so maybe not as much listens as some other songs? But yeah this song is alright. 8/10
The Manuscript
The ending! Finally I guess. A piano-ish slower-style similar to her previous albums too (ie Dear Reader, New Years Day, Daylight). It’s alright, good ending song, but not much overall to help with flow but it’s still a nice song. 8/10
So yeah, wow! Lots of songs in this super mega album. So many super nice songs! But as some critics did mention, the overall vibe did get slightly repetitive to me at some points of the album (despite the songs being super amazing in themselves still!). So some parts are not as memorable as others. I’ll give a overall rating to this album 9.5/10. Ugh. I would love to give it a 10, but it’s just that sometimes in the album listen it just feels meh. Still enjoyable, but not a super nice variety of super nice flow-y vibes. But there are 31 songs, so a very nice long listen, very nice for longer runs. I guess that’s why some vibes felt repetitive too; some just got more boring than I’d like. Still though, the overall vibes are nice!
I did make some okay memories while listening to it every day basically during running over the last 4 months. The concept of listening to this album after a couple months ‘felt’ old and boring at times (not while listening), but when I actually listen to it, it is very very nice! I will miss listening to it every day, but at the same time, I am finally ‘free’ to listen to other nice Taylor albums! Yay! I might stick with TTPD for a bit longer, but at least I have more choices now!
I first listened to this album in Montreal, in the morning. Released in the middle of my east coast adventures. So it also got first impressions in Ottawa, Toronto, NYC. And overall, got the nice Seattle summer 2024 memories mixed into the listens too! Fun!